Disturbed by increasing rate of violence in the Niger Delta, the Akwa Ibom Government has called on the United States to assist the Federal Government in checking the source of illegal arms being smuggled into the region.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Patrick Ekpotu, made this call on Friday while receiving the US envoy in Nigeria, Mr. Donald McCornell, who was in the state to inaugurate an oil palm mill and borehole projects in the Uruan Local Government Area.
Ekpotu explained that checking the rate of arms smuggling into the region would end the activities of militants in the oil producing areas.
He advised foreign nationals against illegal arms deals and oil bunkering, pointing out that such activities encourage violence in the Niger Delta region.
The deputy governor described Akwa Ibom as a peaceful state, noting that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property.
Ekpotu assured the United States Government of a conducive environment to do business and called on it to encourage investors to invest in the state.
Earlier, McConnel had told the deputy governor that he was in the state to inaugurate a palm oil mill and water projects in the Uruan Local Government Area.
He pointed out that the projects enjoyed financial assistance from the United States Embassy in Nigeria under its community self-help programme.
Meanwhile, the people of Odoro Ikot community in the Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state have called Nigerian Gas Company to stop the leakage from a pipeline in the area.
A lawmaker representing Ukanafun in the State House of Assembly, Obong Okon Uwah, said in Uyo that the gas leakage, which started about two months ago, had caused a lot of health hazards to the residents of the area.
Uwah stated, ”Right now the only source of water in the village, a stream, is no longer good for drinking, the leakage has so much affected the people, especially women and children that some of them are very sick.”
Chukwudi Akasike
The Punch
Sunday, September 9, 2007
